Improvement in scaffold-supports



n. A. vanmousToufi I Scaffold Supports.

N0LI4L498} Patented Au gust5,18'73.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR:

. AM. mom-1 lrrlosflrlrmccd mn'assomvzls P1200533) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD A. EDMONSTON, OF GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCAFFOLD-SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,498, dated August 5, 1873; application filed January 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD A. EDMON- sToN, of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, have invented an Improvement in the Construction of Scafiolding, of which the following is a specification:

This invention is adapted to the requirements of masons and other artificers in the erection, decoration, or repairs of buildings; and consists in a peculiar construction of bracket, to be applied to the poles or posts of a scaffold to support the ledgers and putlogs used to sustain the platform.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents my invention as applied to a round pole for supporting a round ledger. Fig. 2 represents a similar device adapted for use with square or rectangular poles and ledgers. Fig. 3 is a perspective of a bracket suitable for application on rectangular lumber.

It has heretofore been customary to erect scaffolds by lashing the ledgers and putlogs to thevertical poles or posts, at suit-able or convenient heights, by means of cords, ropes, or hickory withes, or by nailing boards thereto; but these materials are apt to be kept in use until their texture'and cohesion are destroyed, and the nails and boards are liable to break; consequently many accidents result. The object of my invention is to guard against the possibility of such accidents, and, at the same time, to furnish the mason or other artificer with a means of erecting a scaffold that will be safe, and not liable to decay or disintegration, and also to save time in such construction.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will describe it by referring to the drawings, in which A represents a round post or pole, supposed to be planted in the ground or otherwise secured at its base, and A is of the same character, except that it is square or rectangular in its cross-section. Tothe uprights thus provided I apply a metallic crab, B, constructed, as represented in Fig. 3, of a form (square or round) according to the shape of the material to be used in the scaffold. This crab B may be either rectangular or curvilinear in form, and so proportioned as to gripe or bite on the post at an angle of about forty-five degrees, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, and to encompass three-fourths, or thereabout, of the periphery of the post, the open side of this crab being so cut away that, by raising it to the reverse angle to that it is intended to occupy, it will be easily made to span the post, and, when brought to its proper position, the portions to a will bite on the post, while the lips I) b will prevent any possibility of lateral movement. This crab is further provided with an extension, C, which should be so arranged as to radiate from the center of the post or pole; and it may be formed to receive a round ledger, D, as represented in Fig. 1, or a square one, D, as shown in Fig. 2. On these ledgers D or D the putlogs are supported, their other or inner ends resting in the walls of the building; or, when ,itis not desirable to use the wall for such purpose, another series of holes may be arranged near the wall, provided with similar crabs to support the inner ends of the putlogs, in which case the ledgers D may be dispensed with.

W'hat is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

A scaffold-crab, constructed for use and operation substantially as shown and described.

RICHARD A. EDMONSTON. Witnesses:

W. MORRIS SMITH, WM. H. ROHRER. 

